Radiator cap remover



Aug. 1958 R. s. PEELE RADIATOR CAP REMOVER Filed Sept. 8, 1966 INVENTOR. ROBERT s. PEELE M ai ATTORNE Y 6' United States Patent 3,395,957 RADIATOR CAP REMOVER Robert S. Peele, 8 Prancer Ave., Greenville, S.C. 29605 Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 578,069 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An enclosure having a glove portion which fits on top of a radiator for aiding an attendant in removing the radiator cap from the radiator, while protecting him from escaping steam and hot water.

This invention relates to a device for aiding an attendant in removing a radiator cap from a hot radiator without being injured by steam and the like escaping from the radiator when the cap is removed.

Frequently, service station attendants will be burned by steam and hot water being expelled from a radiator of a vehicle when removing the radiator cap in order to check the water level within the radiator. Such has become especially true in the past few years where high pressure systems are being used within motor vehicles.

Another reason for pressure to build-up within the radiator which causes steam and the like to be expelled therefrom when the cap is removed is due to stoppages within the radiator system.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a device for aiding in removing radiator caps while protecting an attendant from being burned by escaping steam and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for aiding in removing a radiator cap which isolates the attendants hand and body from escaping steam while providing ready access to the radiator cap.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive device for aiding a service station attendant in removing a radiator cap without being burned or injured by escaping steam and water.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device which encompasses the top portion of a radiator for directing steam and the like escaping from the radiator downwardly and incorporates a glove member which provides a service station attendant with ready access to the radiator cap.

The device designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device constructed in accordance with the present invention for aiding in removing radiator caps,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The drawing illustrates a device for aiding a service station attendant in removing a radiator cap from a hot radiator. The device includes an elongated vertical receptacle A having an open top and bottom. A flexible glove member B is carried within the receptacle A for accommodating the attendants hand and providing access to said cap. The glove member B has an open end for receiving the hand of the attendant. Sealing means is carried between said vertical receptacle and said glove for sealing the top of said receptacle. A pair of down- 3,395,957 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 wardly extending flaps C are integral with the bottom of the receptacle A, and extend below the top of the radiator when the device is positioned thereon for directing escaping steam from the radiator downwardly. The glove member B and the vertical receptacle A prevent steam and the like from being expelled upwardly during the removal of said radiator cap.

The vertical receptacle has front and rear walls 10 and 11, respectively, which are joined by side walls 12 and 13. The elongated vertical receptacle A may be constructed of any suitable material, such as hard rubber, relatively stiff plastics, or the like. The width of the receptacle is such that the lower edges of the side walls are permitted to rest on the top of a radiator 14 for supporting such, while the side walls project slightly laterally of the radiator.

A flexible glove member B is carried within the receptacle A for accommodating the service station attendants hand and providing access to the radiator cap 15. The glove member B is preferably formed of a flexible material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or synthetic resin material so as to be flexible and accommodate manipulations by the user within the interior of the receptacle A. The glove may be, also, constructed of any heavy fabric which is waterproof and relatively heat resistant. The primary criterion for the material from which the glove is manufactured is that such should be flexible and substantially waterproof and heat resistant so that escaping steam from the raditor will not penetrate such to burn the service station attendants hand. The glove member B includes a hand portion 16 and a sleeve portion 17 which constitutes a sealing means between the vertical receptacle A and the hand portion 16.

In the embodiment illustrated the upper edge of the sleeve portion 17 is folded over the top of the receptacle A and suitably secured thereto by rivets or screws passing through a frame 18 and the outer edge of the sleeve into the top portion of the vertical receptacle A. The glove member B may be secured to the vertical receptacle A by any suitable means, such as by a bonding agent or a molding process.

A pair of downwardly extending flaps C are integral with the bottom of the receptacle and extend below the top of the radiator when the device is is positioned thereon for directing escaping steam from the radiator downwardly during the removal of the cap. The flaps are integral with the bottom of the side walls 10 and 11, respectively, and in the preferred embodiment are constructed of the same material as the receptacle A.

In removing the cap 15 from the radiator 14, the service station attendant merely places his hand within the gloove member B and positions the device on top of the radiator so that the bottom edge of the side walls 12 and 13 is flush with the top of the radiator. If for some reason steam and pressure has built-up within the radiator, when the attendant removes the cap the escaping steam is expelled upwardly and strikes the interior of the vertical receptacle. Since the top of the vertical receptacle A is sealed by the gloove member, the steam and water are forced downwardly beyond the side walls of the radiator. The flaps C direct the water downwardly so as to prevent such from splashing on the service station attendants body.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for aiding an attendant in removing a radiator cap from a hot radiator comprising: an elongated vertical receptacle having an open top and bottom;

a flexible glove member carried within said receptacle for accommodating the attendants hand and providing access to said cap; said glove member having an open end for receiving the hand of the attendant; sealing means carried between said vertical receptacle and said glove for sealing the top of said receptacle; and downwardly extending flaps integral with the bottom of said receptacle; said flaps extending below the top of said radiator when said device is positioned thereon for directing escaping steam from said radiator downwardly, whereby said glove member and said vertical receptacle prevent steam and the like from being expelled upwardly during the removal of said radiator cap.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertical receptacle includes a pair of side walls, said bottom edge of said side walls being fiat for supporting said receptacle on the top of said radiator.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flaps are flexible.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 60,818 3/1948 Netherlands,

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

I. L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner. 

